Luc van Summeren

My career in the field of sustainability began in 2014, where I worked as a researcher at DuneWorks. During this period, I delved into the intricate interplay between technological and social dimensions, focusing on justice, end-users, and monitoring and evaluation in the context of sustainable retrofitting, demand response, and behavioural change.

In 2019, I started my PhD research on the upscaling of community-driven smart grid experiments as part of the Interreg NWE funded Community-based Virtual Power Plant (cVPP) project. My research resulted in four scientific publications and contributed to the development of the Mobilisation and Replication model—a valuable tool facilitating the replication of cVPPs by other energy communities.

Next, as a postdoc researcher on the ORAKLE project my focus shifted towards the organization of learning and knowledge sharing in the context of the energy transition. I explored the potential of Communities of Practice to foster learning and knowledge sharing among Dutch municipalities. Next, I zoomed in on learning processes within the Social Innovation Energy Transition program in the province of Noord-Brabant, which supported municipalities in their pursuit of inclusive and fair local heat transition pathways. Besides scientific publications, my research informed practical guidelines for organizing learning and knowledge sharing within the energy transition domain.

Beyond academic publications, my creativity extends to the realm of visual communication. I translate research outcomes into playful and provocative cartoons, effectively disseminating project results in various presentations, reports, and online posts. Thereby attempting to bridge the gap between research and practice.

Starting from May 2024, I will assume the position of assistant professor in Sustainability Transitions at Eindhoven University of Technology. This allows me to amplify my impact on sustainability transitions through both scientific interdisciplinary research and educating ‘transition makers’ in the Bachelor program Sustainable Innovation and Master programs Innovation Management and Sustainable Energy Technology.